Make Some Noise, Get Involved—Nora White, author of this week's "Spotlight" column, invites you to get involved in forming a solution to the all-ages debate. You can start by bringing your ideas to the Launchpad (618 Central SW)on Sunday, October 23, at 3 p.m., for a Musicians And Parents (MAP) meeting. The group was formed as a way to "map" out how our representatives can support a viable, nonalcoholic, all-ages music venue Downtown. And you can still submit written comments to the state Gaming Division until September 30, 2005. Send yours to PO Box 25101, Santa Fe, NM 87504-5101. Check out rld.state.nm.us/agd/ for updates on the final outcome of the hearings. For more information on any of this stuff, you can contact Nora at buddhabetties@hotmail.com.

Saturday, September 3; 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe Opera (all-ages): Although Lyle Lovett's base has always been country music, including the influence of musicians like Guy Clark and the late Townes Van Zandt, his songwriting put him on pop and country charts alike. But both "pop" and "country" are too one-dimensional to describe Lovett. In the last two decades, Lovett has garnered a cult of Lyleophiles who feed on the genre lines he continually toes. Building on the careful lyric and melody found in Clark and Van Zandt's work, Lovett has developed a distinct, country-tinged blend of gospel, folk, blues, swing, bluegrass, jazz and pop. In the end, Lovett's success has everything to do with his literary talent and the voice he uses to deliver it. Seriously ladies, forget the huge bouffant he teased in the '80s. That voice and those songs could woo any woman. And we must be clear on one thing that is central to this cowboy's craft: Lyle Lovett is a weird man. His art is deeply invested in people's quirks and the irony of so-called normal life. Lovett is tongue-in-cheek even while singing earnestly; true Lyleophiles know there's always more than one layer to a Lovett song. His recent albums are less the odd ballads and more straight-ahead country. It's music that follows a history of smart songwriting, and although the sound is definitely country, the lyrics far surpass most of what's passing for country today. Lovett's latest album, My Baby Don't Tolerate, may tell the secret of his success: "I live in my own mind/Ain't nothing but a good time."

with Transmogrophy, Los Brownspots and Oktober People

By Jessica Cassyle Carr

Friday, September 2; Atomic Cantina, 10 p.m. (21-and-older), free: Guitar music has never sounded so good, as it takes the form of a side project known as Black Tie. The new local incantation is powered by Roger Apodaca (Scenester) and made possible by seven supplemental musicians assisting with vocals, drums, keyboards, cello, electronic programming and other sounds. These songs are a collection of brooding and spacey guitar-driven compositions that have the power to catapult the listener into an otherworldly state of hypnosis. And while Black Tie undoubtedly references Mogwai, integrity remains intact as the music maintains its uniqueness and conveys its own euphonious narrative. The album in celebration, At Dawn, will probably not appeal to pop fans, but will instead capture the hearts of musicians and all who appreciate indie experimentation.

An informed opinion on last week's all-ages forum

By Nora White

A new music movement has just begun in Albuquerque. It is made up of intelligent, creative and articulate youth who have come to the political table regarding the health of their music community, and they are demanding that their so-called leaders listen. Simply put, this can only be a good thing. The kids are more than alright.

Schoolyard HeroesFantastic Wounds(The Control Group)

Washington state, home of Schoolyard Heroes, is full of the kind of thick, damp forests perfect for shooting B-grade horror films. Fitting, indeed. What we have here are 10 mathy prog-punk tracks reminiscent of the soundtrack to an old-school Nintendo game, eerily reimagined with buzzing, hyper-charged Dick Dale-style guitar riffs and thick, heavy bass lines. To this foundation, add a banshee chanteuse of the macabre (Ryann Donnelly), wailing passionate, frightful narratives about the children of the Hydra, the party habits of serial killers, undressing wounds to lick the sores and several other healthy portions of schlock cinema imagery, and you've got Fantastic Wounds. Fan-bloody-tastic.

Harry from Unit 7 Drain made this flyer with only his two bare hands and Photoshop. He wants you all to know that his band (Unit 7 Drain) will play this (Friday), Sept 2, at Burt's Tiki Lounge along with Oktober People, The Mindy Set and Love Overdose. And that it's free, as always. And that you must be 21 to party. (LM)